Use of Placebo Effects in Performance Enhancement

Bérdi, Köteles, Hevesi, Szabo, and Bárdos (2011) have found in their meta-analysis that placebo was stimulating psycho-motor performance, the influence of heart rate, and diastolic blood pressure. The psychological processes involved are classic conditioning, expectations, and anxiety, which can be interrelated mechanisms activating neurochemical components of the body (Babel, 2009). All, McClung and Collings (2007), Beedie and Foad (2009), and Bérdi et al. (2011) report significant performance benefits from the use of placebo drugs that may be the result of the psychological expectancy effect and not that of the pills at all. The study of Saunders et al. (2016) tested the effect of caffeine in the case of the training of cycling athletes not knowing that they ingested the performance increasing substance with the result, that only when caffeine was identified its effects were realized. On the other side, athletes who found out that their supplements did not contain caffeine were facing damage to their performance development (Saunders et al., 2016).

According to Bérdi, Köteles, Hevesi, Bárdos, and Szabo (2015), two third of asked athletes would be ok with being deceived for effective performance improvement purposes. Interestingly, though, a much higher rate of ninety percent of coaches thought that deceptive use of placebos would be approved by their athletes (Szabo & Müller, 2016). Maybe that’s also why Szabo and Müller (2016) evaluate placebo induction in training and competition to be a problematic contemporary discussion in the sports world.

Sports philosophy argues that equal opportunity in sport should be a result of talent only, although it is acknowledged that even socio-economic factors render absolute fairness being an illusion anyway (Gleaves, 2017). By using the analogy from the field of cognitive enhancement, the accomplishment argument posits that cognitive enhancement aids are immoral in the sense of undermining humility as part of a healthy character (Goodman, 2014). Goodman (2014) suggests dealing with cognitive enhancement in an open and liberal way. Possibly the same is a fruitful way to go in sports. Halson and Martin (2013) put it that way: “So if belief effects are so powerful and have a biological basis, perhaps lying to win is perfectly acceptable (p. 598)”, but on the other side also mention that scientists have a responsibility to explain the evidence basis of the involved ergogenic aids as transparent as possible.

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About mathias sager

Independent researcher, artist, social entrepreneur, and leadership and strategy advisor I was born in Zurich in 1975 and grew up in Switzerland. Currently, I’m living in Tokyo. I love open-minded people everywhere and the passion to working relentlessly for developing human potential, which is an overarching theme throughout all his work. I have extensive experience in leadership and management, organizational psychology research, and learning & development practice. I have worked as a teacher, a leadership trainer, as well as a senior manager responsible for client relationships, counseling, and virtual teams around the world. Also, I’m a social entrepreneur and serving as a strategy and leadership advisor in different ways. My goal is to inspire with interdisciplinary, innovative, and cross-cultural approaches to personal and professional development for the people’s individual well-being and common good alike. Continuously learning himself and keen to help, I appreciate any questions or feedback you may have at any time. Please connect here on any social media, as well as per direct email goodthings@mathias-sager.com.

3 Responses to Use of Placebo Effects in Performance Enhancement

Interesting article! Quite intriguing that the placebo effect can have such a great impact on athletes. From a philosophical perspective, I’d say it depends on whether you follow deontological or consequentialist ethics.

The deontologists say that duty is above everything and the action is what holds importance. By this measure, it would be wrong to use the placebo effect to enhance the athlete’s performance since it would involve lying. Lying is considered wrong by deontologists I believe because it violates the principle of always telling the truth & also disrespects the autonomy of the person.

Consequentialists, conversely, believe that the focus should be on the consequence of the action. Hence, if using the effect leads to a desirable consequence, then the effect is fair and good to use.

Good read. Thanks for putting in the time to research and write the article. 🙂